Tampa Bay has announced they’ve signed franchise kicker Connor Barth to a four-year deal.

No word on the terms of the deal have been announced.

Since joining the Bucs midway through the 2009 season, Barth is 63 of 75 (84 percent) on field goal attempts, including 26 of 28 in 2011, which set a club record with a 92.9 percent success rate.

The 26-year-old earned $1.835 million in base salary on a restricted free agent tender last season and his one-year franchise tag was worth $2.654 million in base salary.

When defensive end Da’Quan Bowers joined the parade of offseason Achilles injury sufferers this offseason, the immediate speculation was that the Buccaneers would lose Bowers for the entire season.

A few days have passed, Bowers has had surgery and the Buccaneers are trying to keep an optimistic view of the timetable for his return. General Manager Mark Dominik indicated that Bowers will be destined for the PUP list instead of injured reserve to keep open the possibility that Bowers would return this season.

“His surgery was successful,” Dominik said, via Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times. “It all comes down to his rehab. He’s going to do his rehab here with Shannon Merrick, who is one of the best rehab gurus in the National Football League, which is why guys have been able to come back like they have at a quicker pace. We hope it does the same thing for him.”

In fact, Blount said, “they” can’t take it away from him at all: Rick Stroud ?of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Blount sees himself as in control of how much he carries the ball.

“Nobody can affect my carries but me,” Blount said. “They drafted [Martin] because we needed him. But at the end of the day, we’re both going to play. But don’t nobody affect my carries but me. Not what he does, not what anybody else does, just how I practice and how fast I get the offense down pat.”

Blount said he lost some weight to get ready for organized team activities, motivated in part by a desire to prove he can carry the load.

“I had the idea they were going to draft another guy,” Blount said. “Them drafting a running back might be what I needed to become an every down back.”

Hey guys – won’t it be great to tell your lady that you could have a chance to win a year’s supply of groceries? Our friends at Ball Park are running a Facebook contest, asking fans to share a photo or video showcasing a funny/crazy example of “something only a guy would do” to win BIG.

To enter, follow this link: http://on.fb.me/GreatMomentsInGuyTime

So if you have a photo/video of a great tailgating moment, showing your team pride at the stadium, or just celebrating great times with your buddies, enter now for a chance to win a year’s supply of groceries. Nine others will win Ball Park grilling packages, complete with a grill and plenty of Ball Park products to keep your summer sizzling.

The Bucs’ franchise designee has not signed his $2.645-million tender nor reached an agreement on a long-term deal. But based on his tweet Monday night, could one be close at hand?

Barth set a franchise-record by connecting on 26-of-28 field goal attempts last season (92.9 percent). He is believed to be seeking a long-term deal in excess of $3-million per year. He did not participate in the Bucs voluntary veteran minicamp prior to the NFL draft.

The NFL deadline for teams to reach a long-term deal with their franchise players is July 15. If no deal is reached at that point, Barth would have to play the entire season under the tag.

A tough day for the Bucs, as last seasons second round pick defensive end Da’Quan Bowers is likely done for the year, as he suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon during the team’s off-season workout program.

Bowers will require surgery to repair the injury, which could happen as early as Friday. A potential first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, concerns about a right knee injury caused Bowers to slide to the second round, where the Buccaneers selected him with the 51st overall pick in the draft.

Bowers did not miss a game in 2011, starting six of 16 games and totaling 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing in 47 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

Depending on the severity of the tear, Bowers could return this season, though he’ll certainly begin the year on the physically unable to perform list. Bowers’ $550,256 base salary in 2012 is fully guaranteed.

Without Bowers, the Buccaneers will look for increased production from Michael Bennett, George Johnson and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, though they could look outside the organization for pass rush help.

The Buccaneers today announced the signing of veteran wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. In signing Underwood, the team put undrafted free agent defensive tackle Myles Wade on waivers.

A 2009 seventh round pick out of Rutgers by the Jaguars, Underwood has caught 11 passes for 141 yards and averaged 23 yards per kick return during an 18-game career with the Jaguars and Patriots, where he and his high-top fade spent the 2011 season.

Underwood, who played for Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers, was released by the Patriots prior to Super Bowl XLVI. Re-signed a few days later, Underwood was waived on May 3rd.

The Buccaneers signed Wade, who played his college ball at Portland State, to a three-year contract after he participated in the team’s rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis.

“You’ve seen a guy who’s completely committed to getting his season back on track and hitting the reset button and getting his game back to hopefully to more of what we saw in 2010 as a young 22-year-old,” Dominik said Wednesday on NFL.com’s “Cover Two” podcast. “The last couple years, he’s been playing around 255-260 (pounds). Right now, he’s sitting downstairs (at the team facility) weighing about 235-238.

“He’s getting his body right, working on getting more mobility and better conditioned and buying in, heart and soul, to how and what (the newly hired) Mike Sullivan is and wants to be as offensive coordinator.”

Dominik said that Freeman’s weight loss was completely voluntary, and no coach or trainer recommended he shed weight. Dominik added that Freeman has slimmed down mainly by changing his diet.

Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State

Danny Noble, TE, Toledo

Eric Page, WR, Toledo

Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern (camp invite)

Tyler Shoemaker, WR, Boise State

Bradley Sowell, OT, Ole Miss

Mike VanDerMeulen, OL, Toledo

Quenton Washington, CB, South Florida

After missing out on the top running back in the draft at 5 the Buccs waited till the end of the 1^st round to get their man. Trading with the Denver Broncos for the 31^st pick the Buccs drafted Boise State Bronco running back Doug Martin. The second highest rated back in the draft Martin should fit in well in Tampa Bay’s two back system. Martin shouldn’t have to carry the entire load at running back as long as Legarrette Blount is around.

Strengths

• Good frame and build for an NFL RB
• Balance and uses his power as a runner well
• Ability to cut and change direction good speed as well
• Will play in pain
• Good pass catcher out of the back field

Weaknesses

• Doesn’t have elite speed not a burner
• Is an upright runner
• Can suffer a case of the drops